Online Learning Movement

The three different journals and video's are very interesting and fascinating read for me. It gave me insights to online learning movements and environments, I discovered some facts, Demography, Dimension and categories of target audience or learners ( this fits into my reading in module one on the theory and practice of online learning (Anderson journal 2004) and Editorial journal by Lalonde J. Moore on " 3 types of interactions". All of this I have summarized in my shared popplet.  Interestingly, the articles and the video gave deeper insight into the history, fast facts, online environments, and the description of what was described as generational labels. In the Journal on Distance Learning, 2009, 13 (1) where three main ideas about distance learning or K-12 environments was explained. I discovered from my reading some fundamental facts as the journal looked intensively into:  (i). critically examinations of common generational labels which is assigned to generation of students; (ii). The second is characteristics these labels attribute to the youth we find in our schools, colleges, and universities and;  (iii) Lastly to describe the virtual school movement, with a focus on developments in North America. I learnt from the articles some examples used to describe the terms generational labels; which are: Generation Y, Echo, Net Generation, Neomillennials, Generation NeXt. Lancaster and Stillman (2002) stated that "one of the reasons for focusing on today's student as detailed in the Journal on Distance Learning, 2009, 13 (1) "those born on the edges of two generations are often referred to as cuspers, and may take the characteristics of either generation depending on their experiences". Lancanster and Stillman further stated that "when considering today’s students, it is important to note that one of the reasons we place so much attention on this group of individuals is their size".  However, from the  labels, three main generational labels were most dominant and have coverage in most media and literature's are: (a) Net Generation; (b) Millennials and; (c) Digital Natives.  found out that this explains alot about what we are this is similar to the comments story I watched on  " Do " Digital Native exists), please see video below.

I find the last description most intriguing as it described the generational label of Digital Natives as the most familiar term in K-12 learning environment. According to Prensky (2001), this group of learners "are all ‘native speakers’ of the digital language of computers, video games and the internet; those of us who are not native to this digital language are considered Digital Immigrants". In my views, I want to agree that this is not a myth as described in the video  " Digital native Exists. A platform to building the gap public schools enrollments using outlined platforms which is yet to be met by the traditional means or schools similar to what Susan Patrick explained in her you tube video on "Why online learning is a smart solution. " Education provides opportunity and high range of options to have access to best programs in education" - Susan Patrick.

Historically, based on the article, K-12 dates back in the earlier years, correspondence education used K–12 level by the Calvert School of Baltimore in 1906 (Moore & Kearsley, 1996); Canadian province of British Columbia in 1919 (Dunae, 2006); K–12 jurisdictions which began to experiment with educational radio as a method of distance education delivery. Radio was used extensively in the mid-Western portion of the United States—beginning in Ohio in 1929 and Wisconsin in 1930 (Clark, 2003), and most extensively in Australia with the School from the Air (Moore & Kearsley, 1996); K–12 community began using instructional television; for example, in 1961 the United States with the Midwest Program on Airborne Television Instruction (Clark, 2003) and finally; in late 1970s and early 1980s, audiographics (or telematics) began to appear in some K–12 jurisdictions. This model was primarily used in Australia (Oliver & Reeves, 1994). The import for me was more profound in the research article written by florida virtual school internationa (Watson J, Murin A, Vashaw L et. All 2011), where online learning practices and policies were reviewed. The nature of online learning, dimension etc. The difference between a virtual school and a cyber school which in most cases I would have seen as same was further explained better by Barbour & Reeves (2009) describing differences and how this ties to online learning movements especially in the American context, some of which is similar to what is explained in the article from iNACOL . I learnt that a Cyber schooling is often associated with the homeschooling movement in the United States—although, in legislative terms, the two terms have very different meanings. Students in these schools are not enrolled in a brick-and-mortar school, and take all of their schooling via the online learning programme (usually at home). While a virtual school uses a combination of asynchronous and synchronous delivery models. In the journal article by the iNACOL, the mission of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is to ensure all students have access to a world-class education and quality blended and online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success focusing on strategic priorities of advocacy, quality and new learning model ( watch video by Susan Patrick on Benefit on online learning in education).

Going forward, the fast going pace of online learning is increasing by the day than any other education innovations. Online learning environment is easily reached by learners than students in the traditional school models, courses are more flexible as it covers different types of learners ( e.g High school athletics students); it provides a one -on-one opportunity for the student to be able to interact with their instructor/teachers ( student have access to best teachers in their field of study from all over the World). Interestingly, I see that it provides the opportunity for students to be able to interact with their peers all over the World and be able to exchange different ideas using a collaborative web based tools as described by Susan Patrick " Benefit of online Education"in the video I have watched. However, examples was drawn from the use by various countries and stressing the importance and how it motivated learning, helped refocus policy change in teachers professional developments in a " digital,connected, collaborative and network world. I ask myself this question " If in the 21st century, the use of technology is critical to this learning innovation, how do we ensure inclusive global learning environment in countries where technology is still lacking? A question I am yet to find answers.